Sheet-separator.



B.. A. FREEMAN.

SHEET SEPARATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED 00T. 1, 1907.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEYv R. A. FREEMAN.

SHEET. SBPARAYTOR. APPLIUATIGN FILED 00T. 1`, 1907.

A 1,072,936, Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

Z; 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. A. FREEMAN.

SHEET SEPARATOB..

ArPLIoATIoN FILED 0012.1, 1907.

.Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

y 4 o M f w ||L A x Fd m T.. :r: Z N

R. FREEMAN SHEET SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 1, 1907.

1,072,936l Patented sept.9,1913.

5 SHEETS-SHBBT 4.

R. A. FREEMAN.

SHEETl SEPARATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T.1, 1907.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913. Zi, 5SHBET8-SHEET5. f4 a# ,232738 37 47M .ull-

WITNESSES:

mit@ tiene eenn EUFUS EREEM-N; 0F FLUSHING, NEW 'YQBKJ ASSIGNOR' C MPANY, GOREQRATYION OFNEW YORK,

'1:0 T Hnenrorense snnn'resnrn'nnron.

Sgecication offLetters Patent.

meenten sept. e2 reise.,

.gplieatqn filed October 1, 1907. Serial Ngy Be it! known. that L. Bonos A. Ennemi/im u.

oitizen of' the United-States, and4 e resident of Flushing, Queens county, State of; New York., have inventedseerten new end useful Improvements in. Sheet-Separatore, of which the following is a speeiication.

The inventionl nelahes to. sheet separators and in many' of its aspects it relates more .particularly to. separatem. which operate of time while maintaining e high rate of il il:

i'eedingof?" separated sheets; to 'provide separating devices having; new and desirable feet-unes; tol provide deviees adapted to oooperete therewith to. furtherthe efficiency oi? machine; and to provide fon adjustment oil the various parte, endl ior their releiive adjustment and timing of thein functions en ee. to4 Secure the heet resulto These and' other objects or" the invention will in part he ohr-lione :ind will in pei-t mene nli'y appenni herein,

The nceoni'ennvini' dreivinoo. referred' toherein end onmin e part hereof, illustrate one embodiment o herein to en vention.

@i the drawings: Figure l is e Side eleva= tion effe sheet-feeding machine ouiitin part' in eneordenee with the principles of this inlein the principios off the ini vention; Fig. 2 is e plan vlenf thereof; Fig.

3j ieei neer end elevation tlaeneo'i; Figo'. Send 4 eine onoitninel.- seetionzil views,l snhetan- @lolly on the line Af-B oi? Fig. 2;- Figj. 6. is

e, detail view 013 the eerniege fon theeepe- 'eepeneting ineens.

vrei-iged to exert e Separating eetion dir the invention, the some f eenvmg in egnneetionwith the description f :tempntee also e further venient-ly located with neepeot to the ii-ohio end sheet staek'ane suitable sheet forwarding devices of any approved or conv form. The seid devioes are shown heroin an comprisinge driven roll 3. carrying tapes e and also a series of drop-relis -l'oeeted Soos to eoperete with the'viioll 3 to 'take the Shee e., iene V and stent it upon: the traveling tapes li., The

drop rolls-5eme raised and lowered in a, Well-v known manner by any suitable mechanism,

as for instance by arms 6 oerried upon e sheit '.7 mounted in the machine frame. There is shown hired., to the shaft Z e lever erin 8 copereti'ng with a-suiteble com, 9, so es to give the necessary movementl tio the rolls 5.

It ie contemplated by certain features of the invention to provide sheet-separating means constructed and arranged to` heve e y highly eiiioieni; progressive separating action liggen eeeh sheet, The invention provides separating means constructed and arranged 'to exert :i separating effort upon each sheet in the direction of its feeding off during :e ghi-rainy of siiceessive operations of the According' to eentnin fee-tures of the invention, nrtiierinore the separating menne ere constructed and .fir-

activ on each of a plurality ei." the sheets nearest 'the force-of the steek in the direction or their feeding ofi1 et each operatie i ei' the esprimin ing means. En the embed ent of the in,- vention illustrated herewith, and according to certain features of the invention, it is oontempleted to have Ehe sepn'nating mfc-eno env in the mannen indioeiied" upon the sheet endo att-he rear ofthe steek to exert e; separati fiction inthe direction of their fe-edi? t ie ffunthor contempla/ted oy the inver on in certain of its aspeets toih'aive the seperating notion exerted successively ony the sheets toward the aee of the stack from which the sheets are fed oli. Et will thus enden stood that accordingto. these particolar iee-` duree o': the` invention, the sepnretingmenne may eet upon the tanned-ont ende of e. plu-- relity of the uppermost sheets lin the steek, The invention7 in certe-in ofits aspect-s, eensepama/ting notion p applied to the face of the topmost sheet,y

which may, if desired, be cont-inuous .with the other action, so far as concerns many features of the invention. p

The invention in certain of its 'aspects includes separating means which will exert a -plurality of separating efforts of graduated pressure or intensity upon anyparticu certainty, and it is also` .very desirable to do this at a high rate of speed. y The progressive and graduated actions hereinbefore specified provide an eective separating ac-` tion, also a relatively long time, for the separation of two sheets under the direct action of the separating means and for thel gradual destruction of the strong cohesion between successive sheetsof the stack and notwithstanding this extended separating action on each particular sheet it 1s possible to keep. up a high rate of feeding off the sheets Y In the drawings herewith an embodiment ofthe invention is shown comprising'the features of invention above specified, together with other features 'of invention,I as will appear elsewhereV herein. In this embodiment separating means are provided having a combing` action operating in accordance with the "features of invention above specified, such a combing action being contemplated by the invention in certain of its aspects. Certain other aspects of the invention linclude also the particular form and action of combing devices as will ore particularly specified elsewhere herein. Referring tojthe drawings herewith, the combingI device 10 comprises a series of rolls 11' arranged substantially'in a plane and` mounted in a suitable frame 12. The combing device 10 is further shovvnpivotally mountedrtoward one'fend of the franie .12 upon an arm 13 which arm is in turn pivotally carried upon a bracket arm 14. Suit- 'able devices are also provided for causing the 'combing` device to exert pressure upon the sheets'and in the form thereof herewith illustrated'a spring 15 .is shown bearing upon the arm 13 and 'provided with an adjusting screw 16for regulating the pressue. 1.

Means are also? provided/in this embo ment for regulating the pressure of the' various sepai ating rolls 11 as they pass over the sheets, andthe illustrated form .of said means comprises a spring `17 mounted to exert pressure between 'the axis of the pivot joining'the arm 13 to the separating device lug 418 near the other end of the' said frame. Av screw 19 may be provided for regulating the 'pressure of the spring 17. w

Means are'provided, as hereinbefore indieated, for giving proper movement to the separating devices 10 and the form thereof illustrated in connection with theV resent embodiment comprises a carriage 20 s idably` 'mounted in the frame of the machine, Yand it is shownv having trunnions 21 running in suitable guides 22 upon the said frame. The bracket arms 111 are fixedly carried upon a `shaft; l23 mounted in the carriage 20. A suitable reciprocating movement-is communicated to the carriage 20 by any convenient means and in the illustrated emat one end ofthe frame 12 and a suitable bodiment a link 24 is'shown pivotally con'- necting'the carriage to alever 25 which in turn is connected'to an eccentric 26 mounted upon a suitable shaft carried in the frame of the machine.

.In the illustrated embomdiment the :novement of the separating device toward and.

from thesheet stack so that it mayreturn out of contact -with'thesheets is effected by the arm 13 swinging' about its'mountingon' thel bracket Varm 14. iThe` illustrated form of means for effecting this comprises a cam 27 which acts upon the arm 13 through the medium of a cam roll 28.

It is usually 'desirable to use a plurality of separating devices together upon the same machine and thepresent invention contemplates therefore means for adjusting apluralit'yof separating devices `so as to bring thein' all in to the same desired relation with respeet'toia stack of sheets o a lven size' which may' be carried upon the ta le 2. It isV generallyA found convenient'to use two separating -device`s acting sheets,and' two devices so located are shown pon opposite sides `of the longitudinal een er line of thein connection with the present embodiment.

The cam roll 28 is.mounted upon arod pass-l ing through the arm 130i eachl separating device.` In the illustrated form the lshaft 23 is shown carried slidably in the.' carriage 20. Near each end of the, said shaft 'is a lug 29 tapped with ascrew-.thread-vv'hich receives a threaded rod 30.1 Mounted upon each of` the threaded rods l30 is shown a miter gear 31 meshing with a.v similarvear upon a shaft 32; Upon-tunning the shaft 32 the twoends ,of the shaftm23fwill move in unison andthe twp or Vmore separating devices will be carried in' exactly the same relation backward lor forward so as to come into proper relation with the particular sizes of sheets being fed. For convenience,'the

shaft '32 is shownpr'ovided 'with akpurled I hand piece 33. I l

Certain featuresfof the'mventlon contemplate also provldingsuitablefeeding-out means for feeding the topmost'vsheet. to' the fie 38. The brackets 38 are adj ustably mounted by set screws, as sli-own in Fig. 3, on the` crossrod 39 of the carriage 20. Suitable means are provided for causing the said roll yto have a forward movement in Contact With i the'topinost sheet so as to feed it into-the: sheet forwarding devices, then to lift away sheet forwarding devices when it has been effectively separated from the other sheets. The form of such means illustrated in the accompany/ino' drawings comprises a pusher finger or roll 34. The said roll is shown mounted upon an arm S pivotally carried by the carriage Q0. Meansare provided for placing an adjustable pressure upon the push-er roll or linger 34, the illustrated form thereof comprising a spring 36 acting upon the arm and the tension thereof being lregulated by a suitable adjusting screw 37 'carried in a bracket38. The feeding-off de-. vices are shown herein as being' two in namber `and also located on either side of the center of the machine, each of the arms 35 being pivoted on the corresponding bracket from the face of the stack, to move back- Ward free therefrom and to come into cons j Itact therewith preparatory for the neXt feeding-oil'l movement.. The form of such means I shown in the accompanyingr drawings comprises an arm 40, forming an extensioni" the arm 35. rlhe arm 4G of each feeding-ofi device is in connect-ion with a rod carrying .a cam roll 41. The said roll 41 .is arranged to pass into and out. of operative relatioifiA with a cani 42 so as to litt the pusher roll 34 aivay from and to allow it to come into contact With the face of the sheet stack.

Means are provided, according to certain features of the invention, for regulating-and harmonizing with respect to each other the:

action of the separating devices and the feeding-ott devices Certain features-of the invention contemplate also providing means for varying; the relations of the separating devices and theteedingotf devices and the time of the performance of their functionswi'th respect t'o each other. Means for effecti ing' both these functions areprovided in the present embodiment, and the particular form thereof shown in the vdrawings will now be described.

Carried upon the carriage 20 is shown a ar 44, slidably mounted in a bearing 43. The end of thesaid bar Works also in aA slot in the bearing-piece 45. The length 'of travel ot' the said bar may be. limited by,

` an adjustable stop 46 which is located so to contact with shoulders upon the said bar 'outside of the slot in the piece 45.` A suit- ,able stop is provided at the other end of yfthe 'bar 44 and the'v functions of all these parts will 'beniore fully setforth herein-1' after. Vr:lhe cam member 27 ,is ladjustaloly mounted upon the ysaid sliding 4'bar 44 .by suitable meanssucli as the binding screw 47. f

respect to the various i'necl'ianisins.

i ei

said bar and may be adjustable, it' desired.l

From the foregoing it will be obvious that in the construction described the springs l5 and 36 through their associated. parts tend to hold the rod 44 so that Within the limits of its travel it Amoves with the carriage 20 but when the bar engages the stops at either end of its travel said bai' 44 ceases to move with the carriage 20 and then has relative movement with respect thereto and to the parts carried thereon. The ei'icct of this Willbe more fully set forthin the statement of operation.

According to certain vfeatures of the i vention, means are provided tor regulating the effect of the separating means upon the sheets. The illustrated form of such regir.

letting;r means comprises friction pads 48 shownhearing upon the surface of the sheet stack forward ci the combing devices l0. rflic said pads are carried upon pivotallymounted arms 49 supported upon bracket arms carried by a shaft 50 slidably mounted in the machine frame. Springs 'are utilized in this lembodiment tor exerting suitable pressure upon the `friction pads 48 and adjusting screws 52 are likewise provided ior regulating the tension oi' the springs 5l. The pressure on the vt'i'icticn pads can thus be nicely adjusted so as to regulate the effect ot a particular separa-ting eil'ort. means of these and the various other adjustments described it is possible to regulate accurately the action of both sides of the machine. iin adjusting device for positioning the friction I pads for various sized sheets is provided and iii the prcsent embodiment the form thereof shown is sul'istantiallj,f similar to the corre sponding mechanism associated with the separating devices. A detailed description need not be given therefore and all the said parts are indicated generally by the roterence numeral 53.

It is of course necessary vto keep the ico of the sheet stack in operative relation wit i l'n the present embodiment this is effected by feed ing up the table 9, as the sheet diminishes in height by reason o'i the sheets being tedofi'. Suitable means for 'e'tlertiugr and also means for regulating` this movement of the table are provided. The ill ltrated form 'of such means comprises supporting, guiding, and driving means for the table, detector means for raging the level Iot the topl of the sheet stack, and regulating` devices controlled thereby for goveininguil the action of the table-elevating mechanism. ln the illustrated 'embodiment of such means there are shown legs 54 carrying vthe table Q and .mo-ving in guides upon the frame of the machine. Attached 4to the table `2 is a sprocket chain 55 passing over sprocket -wheels 56 :rteither end of its travel.. 'Constzicl;

' nectedto one of the sprocket wheels 56 by r`the machine frame. Upon bar 60 is a collar 62 engaged by the forked a sliding rod 70.

-do by suitable gearing is shown a ratchet wheel 57. Located adjacent to the surface of the sheet stack is shown a roll 59 upon a bar 60 slidably mounted in a bracket 61 carried on the end of the end of. an arm 63 carrled by the shaft 64. Fixed tothe shaft 64 is a bell-crank lever 65 to oneend of which is nivoted the arm 66 havin a pin-and-slot connection at its other end with the arm 8. 'The spring 67 coactingwith the shaft 64 tends Ato keep the pin and slot in the relation shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. Connected to the othor'end of the bell-crank lever 65 is a rod 68 'which is also connected vto a pivotally-mounted pawl trip 69. The pawl 58 is mounted upon The said rod 70 actin under the influence of the spring 71 woul tendto move into engagement lwith a suitable cam 72. It is restrained therefrom, however, b reason of the paw] trip 69 being normal y in osition in rear of the lug 73 upon the paw 58.

its path of travel, which it. is permitted to reason of the pin-and-slotconnection between the link 66 and the arm 8. As the pile of sheets decreases in height the oint is reached when the throw of the bel -crank leverl 65 lifts the pawlV trip the stop 73 and the rod 70 is moved back under the iniiucnce of the spring 71 so that 'the pawl 5S will take a tooth upon the ratchet wheel 57 and the .action of the cam 72 will'then feed up thetable. The elevation of vthe face of the sheet stack will again cause the.trip G9 to pass behindv the stop 73 and stop the elevating action until the face of the sheet stack hasn ain sunk so as to cause a lrepetition of t e action just described, when the drop roller is operated to remove the top sheet fed ott the pile, the link 66 operates to raise the roller 59 oit the sheet.l

Means are contemplated by the invention for stopping the separating and feeding ac tion. In the illustrated embodiment, means for stopping the said actionby hand are provided including ,a pivoted sto 7i'4 which maybe thrown down,as vshown in Fig. 7, so

as to engage the bar 44 when in its rearmost.

' position, and to prevent its beine carried forward during the movement ofb the carrage 20.- "lhe stop .may be thrown back into -inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 4.

pawl 74is connected withv a detector ,device l75. The said pawl is adapted `to engage VMeans are Aalso provided for stopping the separatingeand feeding actions, 4should more than one fed olf the pile at one operation ofthe separating devices. i As shown, the

with a series ofratchet teeth 76 carried upon the bar 44 so as to stoporlimit the action of As the sheets are fed off, however, the .bell-crank lever 65 varies 69 from behind.

tion,

'rides upon Athe cam .42,

the said bar under certainpconiilitions.l These l devices constitute a part of the subject-matter of another apphcation for patent filed by me contemporaneously herewith and need not be described in detail herein.

The operation of'. the herein-described mechanism is substantially as follows: A stack of sheets' is loaded upon the ltable 2 which is properly adjusted as t, height. The driving mechanism is started and through the eccentric 26 and lever 25.',and

the connectedparts the carriage 2O,y is reciprocated backward and forward. "The carriage 20 may be regarded as starting from l itsa rearmost position.4 As has been hereinbefore explained, the bar 44 through the ac tion of the springs 15 and 36kwill be carried forward therewith.' At this time the rolls 28 and 41 bear upon the bar 44 and not upon 4 respective cams.' The combing devices 10 .act upon the sheets which are ".'anned-out -in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5.0i the drawings. It will thus be seen that each of the combing rolls -11 pass 'successively over the ends of the successive sheets near the top of the stack 4and that successive-rolls also act upon a particular sheet. It will bescen also that by the action of the springs 15 and 17 the pres# sure exerted by successive rolls increases. Thus the separating eortis graduated into succession of smaller efforts whichI vary in intensity thus producing a most excellent separating action. the separating device may be such that it also moves over the top 'surface of the top sheet duringla portion of the separating acas-shown in Fig. 4. As the carriage 20 continues to move,y the bar. 44 comes in contact with" the front stop and' thereupon themovemen't of the parts auch The path of travel of the roll ,28 moves along the surface of the bar, riding upon. the cam S27-and the arm 13 is thereby swung backwardly against the action of the spring 15 lifting tile separating device 10 from the'face of .the sheet stack.

The pusher rolls 34 vin contact with the top sheet 'have also-moved forward with the carriage, as shown in Fig. 4, and finally push the top ,sheet into the reach of the delivery device. regulate the combing operation and also'to The friction pads serve toA prevent a single sheet from being removed i from the pile with the top sheet by lthe pusher rollers V34. \'1`he drop/rolls 5 then bring the sheet into contact with the driven roll 3 and the-top sheet isv carried away byy bar 44..has

When the w y described, the. roll 41 and thepig'sher roll 34 is lifted out of contact with tlie sheet as it is ted away,y The baclwvard movement'of .the carriage 20 bcginsthrough thefaction of the eccentric they travel tape 4. stopped, as previously sureof springs l'and 136, asfhereinbefore 26 andlever 25, the ba'r 44 be. i ing'carried baekwardbyreason of the presrolls 34.- again come into contact with the top or" the sheet st ascli. VIt will be. understood. further that the action of the separating de* vices and of the pusher rolls 34 may be varied by varying the position of the stops -which limit the travel of tli-e 'ba-r 44 and also that the relative position.travel, and the functional timing of the separating devices and the feedingot .devices may be regulated by varying the relative position of the cams 27 and 42. Otlierineans of regulating theseV devices'liave been fully described in connec tion iviththeir respective construction. The operation' of the remaining parts will be clearly understood from the descript-ionand from the drawingsand need not bel set forth ventionand the advantages herein setforth,4

in detail.

` From all the foregoing it will be understood that. a sheet-feeding machine has been provided which realizes theolbijects of intoget-her withl'other objects and advantages. rThe invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the particular construction shown, nor toany particular constructions by which it has been or may be carried into effect, as many `cl'iangcs may be made in the construction Without departing from the main principles of the invention and Without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A sheetfeeding machineincluding in combination, means for supporting a sheet stack, separating means constructed and arranged to exertintermittently a series of progressive separatinfractions directly upon each of a plurality ciP4 sheets during each of a plurality ofsuccessive operations of the said means, and means for operating said separating means.

2. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, means tor supporting a sheet stack, sepai'atingimeans constructed and ar Aranged to exert :intermittently a. series of separating actions. directly on each of a plurality of .the sheets nearest'thetop of the stackduring each of a' plurality of successvcopcrations vof the said means, said separating'actions being exerted inthe direction 7.1of'feetlinlg oit, and means for operating said separating means.

3. A sheet-feeding machine including in combiinition,l means forsupporting a :ilieet stack, separating means constructed and arranged to exert a series of progressive separating actions oi varying intensity directly upon each of a-pluialty of sheets during each of a plurality of successive operations of the said means, and means for operating said separatin 0' means.

4. A slieetceding machine including in combination, meansfor supporting a sheet stack, separating means constructed and arranged to exert intermittently a series of progressive separating actions directl upon the rear ends of cach of a plurality ot sheets during each of `a plurality of successive operations of the said means, said actions being exerted in the direction of feeding ott, and means for operating the said separating means.

5. Asbest-feeding machine including in combination, means for supporting a sheet stack, separating means comprising a reciprocating combing device constructed and arranged to exert during each reciprocation a series of separating actions directly on each of a plurality of sheets nearest the top of the stack in the direction of feeding ott,

means for rendering said device inoperative f when moving in the opposite direction, and means for reciprocating the said combing device.

6. A sheet-feeding machine includin in combination, means forsupporting a'szheet staclnseparating means comprising a combing device constructed and arranged to exert a series of progressive separating actions of varying intensity simultaneously directly upon each of at least three successive sheets during each of a lurality of successive operations of the said operating said separating means. L

7. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, means for supporting a sheet stack, separat-ing means comprising a reciprocating combin device constructed and arranged to exert uringeach reciprocat-ion; a series of separating actions of varying intensity directly upon each of a plurality of sheets near the top of the stack,means for reciprocating said device, means for render'- ing said device operative during` its motion in one direction, and means for rendering said vdevice inoperative duringits motion in the opposite direction.

8. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, means 'for supporting a sheet stack, separating means comprising a reciprocating feeding oii" device, a reciprocating combing device constructed and arranged to criteria' a progressive separating action directly upon the rear ends of a plurality of sheets near the top of the stack'durng each Operation o the separating means, means for reciprocating said devices, means .for rendering said devices operative during their movement in one direction, and means for rendering said devices inoperative durmeans, and means for i' ing theirmovement inthe opposite direction. v

9. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, means for supporting a sheet stack, sepa 'atingvr means comprising a reciprocating 'eeding oiif device, a reciprocating combingv device constructed .and arranged to exert'a series of progressive sepa- *Said devices,

rating actions direct-ly'upon a plurality of sheets during each of a plurality of succes` sive operations, means for reciprocating vices operative during their movement in onedlrectlon, and means for rendering said devices inoperative during their movement ,Y in the opposite direction.

in one direction,and means for rendering said devices inoperative ,when moving in the opposite d1rect1.on. ,.v

11. A sheet-feeding machineincluding incombination, means for supporting a sheet stack, separating means comprising a reciprocating combing device including a series of combing' rollers, eating said device, mcansvfor causing the respective rollers of the series to successively exert a graduated pressure upon the Stackduring the movement ,of thedevice in one direction, and means for relieving said device from pressurewvhen moving in the opposite direction.

' 12. A sheetfeeding machine including in combination, a support for a sheet stack,

a reciprocating combingl device carrying a plurality of freely rotatable combing roll.- ers arranged substantially in means for reciprocating said device, and means for varying the pressure exerted upon. the sheets by the diiierent rollers. f

13. A sheet-t`eeding machine including in combination, a support for a sheet stack, a

reciprocating combing device carrying a plurality of freely rotatable combing rollthe pressure of the rollers during the moveers arranged substantially iu` a plane.,

means for reciprocating said' device, meansA :tor causing the respective rollers of theseries to exert different` pressures upon the stack during the movement of' the device in one direction, and means for'rcmoving ment of'the device in the opposite direc* tion.

111. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, a support for a sheet stack,

means for rendering said .de-4

means for' means for reciproplurality ofcombin ,rl1ers,`an automatic means for causing t e successive rollers to exert a gradually increasing pressure upon the stack during the movement of the device iny one direction, and means `for lremoving the pressure of the rollers during the movement' of the Idevice in the otherdi- `rection. i'

15. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, means for supporting as eet stack, separating vmeans comprising a reciprocating feeding off device operating on the forward part of the stack and a reciproleating combing device including' a series o f combing rollersarranged to operate` on the rear of the stack', means for'reciprocating said devices, means for rendering them operative during their motion in one direction, and means' for rendering them inoperative during their motion in the op'posite direction.

combination, means for supporting a s eet stack, 'separating means comprising a reciprocating feeding oft device, a reciprocating combing device including a series of combing rollers, ,means for reciprocating said devices, means for causin successively exert a l,graduated pressure upon the stack during the movement of the devices in one direction, rendering both devices inoperative during their movement in the opposite direction.

17. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, a support for a sheet stack,

ward part of the stack, a reciprocating combing device having a plurality of combing rollers arranged to' operate upon the rearward part of the stack, means for rcciprocating said' devices in unison, means for causing said devices to operate upon the forward stroke, and means for `rendering said devices inoperative during the return stroke.

18. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination,V a support for a sheet stack, separating means comprising al reciprocating feeding oit device operating on the for- Ward part of the stack, a; reciprocating combing devicev operating on the rearward part of the stack, means for reciprocating said devices, means for causing said devices to operate with predetermined pressures upon the stack during the forward stroke, and means includinga member reciprocatinoperative during the rearward stroke.

19. A sheet-feedingmachijne including .in combination, a support for a sheet stack,

separating means comprising a reciprocatva reciprocating combing device Icarrying a- 16. A sheet-feeding machine includin in the recip# rocating combing rollers of t e series toV separating means comprising a rec1procat' v ing feeding oft1 device operating on the for stack with varying pressures during the and means for ice ing with said devices for rendering the same,

Aduring the rearward stroke.

ing feeding ed device operating on the forward 'part of the stack, a reciprocating combing device operating on the rearward part of the stack, means for reciprocating said devices, meansl for causing said devices to operate with predetermined pressures upon the stack during the forward stroke, means including 'a member reciprocating with said devices for rendering the same inoperative during the rearward stroke, and means operating on said reciprocating member for rendering the separating means inoperative. Y

20. A sheet-feeding machine including in con'ibination, ay support for a sheet stack, separatinof means comprising a plurality of feeding olf devices arranged to operate with independently adjustable yielding pressure on the forward part of the stack and a plurality of combing devices arranged to operate with independently adjustable yielding pressure on therearward part of the stack, means for reciprocating said devices in unison, means for rendering said devices operative during the forward stroke, and means for rendering said devices inoperative 2l. A sheet-feeding machine including in combination, a support for a sheet stack, separating means comprisino` a plurality of feeding ed devices arranged to operate on the forward part of the stack andY a plurality of combing devices arranged to operate 'on the rearward part ofthe stackmeans for reciprocating said devices in unison, means for causing said devices to. bear upon .the stack with predetermined pressures during the forward stroke, and means including-a member reciprocating with said devices fr.; rendering the same inoperative during the rearward stroke.

22. A sheetfeeding machine including in combination, a support for a sheet stack, separating means comprisino1 a plurality of feeding off devices arrange to operate on -the forward part of the stackand a plurality of combing devices arranged to operate on the rearward part of the stack, means for reciprocating said devices in unison, means -for causing said devices to. bear upon the stack with predetermined pressures during the forward stroke, means including a member reciprocating with said devices for rendering the same inoperative during the rearward stroke, and means operating on said member for rendering said separating means inoperative.

23. A combing device for a sheet-feeding machine comprising a supporting member, a series of freely rotatable combing rollers carried by said member and arranged substantially in a plane, an arm pivoted to said member, and means for reciprocating said arm.

24. A combing device for a sheet-feeding machine comprising a supporting member, a series of freely rotatable combing rollers car1 l'ied by said member and arranged substantially in a plane, an arm 'pivoted to said member,` means for reciprocating said arm, means for exerting pressure ,upon said combing rollers d uriug the movement of said arm in 'one direction, and means for removing said pressure during their movement 'in the opposite direction.

A combing device for a sheet-feeding machine comprising a supporting member, a series of combing rollers carried by said member and arranged substantially in a plane, an arm pivoted to said member, means for exerting a predetermined pressure on said arm, and means forexerting a predetermined pressure between said member and the said arm to which it is pivoted.

26. A combing device for a sheet-feed ing machine comprising a supporting mem-- ber, a series of combing rollers carried by said member and arranged substantially in a lane, an arm pivoted to said member, means or exerting a predetermined pressure on said arm, and means for exerting a predetermined pressure upon the -said member tending to give the latter an angularvmotion about its pivot whereby the combing rollers are caused to bear upon the sheets With different pressures. l

27. A sheet separating mechanism including in combination, a support for a sheet stack, a feeding oil' device arranged to operate by'frictional contact with the top of the stack, a combing device arranged to comb the sheets in the direction of the feeding o movement thereof by direct contact simultaneously upon a plurality of successive sheets, and sheet holding means arranged to engage the rearward end of the second sheet While the top sheet is being removed by the feeding olf device.

28. A sheet-separating mechanism including in combination, a support for a sheet stack, a plurality of feeding-olf devices arranged to operate with independently adjustable yielding pressure upon the forward part of the stack, a plurality of combing devices arranged to operate with independently adjustable yielding pressure upon the rearward part of the stack, and a plurality of sheet holding devices arranged Pto engage the rearward end of the second sheet while the topsheet is being removed by the feeding-off devices. y

:29.4 A sheet separating mechanism including in combination, a support for a sheetv stack, a feeding off device arranged to 0perate by frictional contact with the top sheet of the stack, means for varying the degreerof such frictional contact, and combing devices arranged to comb the sheets lin' the di .rection of the feedinood movement thereof, meansfor varying tlie degree of the`cornbing action, sheet holding means arranged to engage the rearwardend of the second sheet; while the top sheet is being removed by the feeding off.device, and means for varying 5 the holding effect of such sheet holding means.

In testlmony whereof, I have Slg-ned my name to tihivs specication, the peseeasof two subscribing witnesses. l-

, 4RUFUS A. 'FREFHMAEl Witnesses: y

WM.' J. DOLAN, JOHN CONAHEY. 

